I hate entering contests. I never do well, and it always depresses me when my entry scrapes the bottom of the barrel. I know there are people who enter lots of contests and do fantastically. Many people have gotten their careers started by doing well in contests. I’m not one of them.

But, I did finally enter one. I entered, under an assumed name, the Romance Junkies writing contest. Why you ask? I have no idea other than I guess I wanted some feedback on a story I’ve been playing around with. I’m not telling anyone my assumed name, nor am I going to tell anyone what my contest entry is about. I want to see if my 5000 words can stand up for themselves.

It’s very scary.

Partly, because like I said, I don’t do well in contests. But also because I know there are people who lobby hard for people to vote for them and I REFUSE to do that. I don’t think that’s right or fair, but I know it happens anyway.

Now, my question is, will people recognize my voice even though I’m using another name? I’ll be interested in seeing what happens. . .

No this is not a how to blog. I’m admitting here that I suck at writing a synopsis when I haven’t finished writing the book yet. I can write the hell out of a synopsis once I’ve finished writing the book. It’s when I’m not done yet that things get dicey.

See, when I write, I have a general idea what’s going to happen. And I mean GENERAL. I sort of know where things are going and then if things come along while I’m writing, well, I just roll with it. Once I’m done writing the book, to sit down and write the synopsis is just like writing a review for my own book. I can do that.

The problem I’m having now is that I’m only half way (ish) through the book and I’m not exactly sure how everything is going to turn out. Which makes writing the book fun, but the snyopsis a pain. Unfortunately, I NEED to do this because I’d really like to start selling books on proposal. A proposal is–ta da! Three chapters and a synopsis. Hence, my problem.

Just like any other part of writing, synopsis writing is a skill that I’m going to have to work on, hone, and improve upon in order to move forward in my career.

Talk about your growing pains!